Morning journal and courier., 1887-12-15

The Closing Work of the Annual Ses-
 sfon-COnnecticutF Farmers Don't Give
 Up the Fight Yet.
 At the closing exercises of the State grange in Hartford this week officers were elected as follows:
 Master-J. H. Hale Glastonbury grange, South Glastonbury.
 Overseer-J. M Hubbard, Mattabessett grange, Middletown.
 Lecturer George Austin Bowen, Senexet grange,
 secretary-Lewis J. Wells senexet grange, South Woodstock.
 Steward-H. F. Potter, North Haven grange Mon towese
 Assistant steward-Earl Cooley, Berlin grange,
 Chaplain--The Rev. D. B. Hubbard, westfeld
 Treasurer-T. S. Gold, Cornwall grange, West Cornwall.
 Gate keeper-A. Keny on, Konomoc grange, New
 Ceres-Mrs. Sherman Kimberly, Hope grange,
 Pomona-Iinda Kimble, Ellington grange, Filing ton.
 Flora-Mrs. Henry O. Durham, Mattabesett
 grange, MiddletOWn.
 Lady assistant steward-Mrs. Fred Hawley, New Canaan grange New Canaan.
 The offices are evenly distributed among the various sections of the State and general satisfaction with the ticket was expressed on all sides when the result became known. The chief interest of the afternoon session centered in the election of 6 member of the executive committee to hold office for three D. was appointed to the position. The greater part of the afternoon was oc cupied in discussing various resolutions. The most important referred to the abolishment of internal revenue duties on all agricultural products, especially tobacco. It was referred | to the appropriate committee. Considerable I time was devoted to the proposed change in | the date of the annual meetings, but nothing definite was decided There is a strong sen- timent in the order in favor of February. In the evening the sixth degree was con ferred in full form upon class of seventy, after which the officers elected at the morn ing session were duly installed. The press committee, which furnished all information regarding the meetings proper to be made public, consisted of Dr. George Austin Bowen of Woodstock, chairman, and Messrs. O. P. Ives of Meriden and c. w.
 Roberts of Collinsville.
 The officers elect were duly installed with the formalities of the order by Worthy Mas ter E. E. Gaylord of Senexet grange No. 40, of Woodstock assisted by Worthy Master R. G. Davis of Mattabesett grange, Middle town The Courant had the following talk with farmers attending the convention: Dr. E. Gaylord of Woodstock, practical farmer of considerable experience, when asked what, in his opinion, was the most sue cessful department of farming to-day said it was embraced in the two words, "cows and grass" Dairy prices are ruling high, he said, and this makes pasturage higher than at any time during the last three years The same can be said, be thought, of all portions of the State-at least in the vicinity of cream cries.
 MT. s. O. Brown, of Eastford, said that things had looked rather discouraging up in Windham county for the farmer for several years, but now he thought he saw signs of progress. The crops have been satisfactory this year with the exception of course of nd ha nT1f1 hriO A hopeful sign, he thought, was to be found in the fact that there had been decided local call for farms of late in his neighbor- hood.
 MT. A. w. Saunders of Nepaug, New Hart ford, said that the farmers of Litchfeld | county were hurt by the overcharging of the railroad companies It is not so bad now, however, as before the passage of the inter State law, when the railroads carried a car l load of wheat from Duluth to New York for less money than the farmers could have the 1 same quantity transported from Litch6eld to the metropolis-and the cars from Duluth passed through portion of this State at that. Another difficulty under which the farmer labors, MT. Saunders thought, is that few of them have the proper balance between land and working capital; or, in other words, they have, as rule, more land than they have capital to work it. The farmers in his coun ty, he said were now aiming to get more from less land, and in this they were beginning to succeed and would soon be on better basis. In regard to western competition Mir. Saunders had this to say: ''The farmers of Connecticut have by no means given up the fight. Land in the West is gradually being taken up and is becoming scarcer. Again. the system of special cropping, or raising one kind of product exclusively, is gradually be- ing abandoned and the farmers West are
 more and more going into general farming.
 This, of course, tends to give us our own
 market. Another fact to be noticed is that
 the population out there is rapidly increas- ing and factories are being erected every where; and this increased population viii make constantly increasing home demand. D When asked what he thought of the Presi- dents message he tersely remarked: ''How is free wool going to help the farmer. It gives him a chance to keep one dog when he ought to be able to keep four sheep. It is time that the farmers should see through the wool that is being drawn over their eyes and not let it get any thicker"
 MT. NJ. w. Frisbie of Southington, a member of the executive committee, said that he thought the prospects looked bright so long as the farmers worked together and organized these cooperative associations. He did not approve of the Presidents message, which, he thought, aimed two blows in one at the local tobacco industry by deprecating the removal of the internal revenue, which is desired by the farmers, and favoring the removal of duties. If carried out he thought it would make tobacco raising in Connecticut unpro6table. A reciprocity treaty with Can ada would admit grain. hay, vegetables and all farm produce; and the competition with Canada is serious enough already, he thought. To bring these articles in free so as to let manufactures go into Canada free of duty would ruin the farmers for the benefit of the manufacturers. The farmers poll fully one half of the votes cast in this country and their interests should be protected.
 St. Paul's.
 The ladies of St. Paul's guild will hold sale of cake and fancy articles in the vestry of the church this afternoon and evening.
 List of Letters
 remaining in the New Haven postoffice, New Ha-